3DChoroidSwin: advancing 3D choroid segmentation in OCT images through Swin Transformer and morphological guidance.

The choroid is a dense vascular layer that lies between the retina and the sclera and contributes to the blood supply of the outer retina. In recent years, optical coherence tomography (OCT), which enables non-destructive acquisition of cross-sectional images of the choroid, has revealed the relationship between morphological changes in the choroid and eye diseases. In this context, automatic and accurate segmentation of OCT images is critical, but many existing methods face challenges, as they 1) rely on convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architectures, which struggle to capture long-range dependencies, and 2) primarily focus on two-dimensional OCT images and thus have difficulty identifying the complex three-dimensional (3D) structure of the choroid.

An increase in Fusobacterium is associated with the severity of oral mucositis after radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a common treatment for head and neck cancer but often causes oral mucositis, which reduces quality of life. Recent studies suggest that radiotherapy affects the oral microbiota, but whether it contributes to the severity of mucositis has been unclear. This study investigated the association between radiotherapy-induced changes in the oral microbiota and the severity of mucositis using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Japanese translation of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper and lower extremity sensorimotor function after stroke.

Objective: To develop an official translation of the original Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper and lower extremity sensorimotor function into Japanese by following a standardized cross-cultural adaptation process to ensure conceptual, linguistic, and semantic validity.

Design: Cross-cultural translation/validation.

Subjects/patients: Seven Japanese clinical experts and an external expert developed the translation.

Machine learning using serial changes in proteinuria during initial steroid therapy to predict treatment response and immunosuppressant use in pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Epidemiological studies on idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children have identified no definitive factors predicting steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) or frequent relapsing nephrotic syndrome. Research using machine learning (ML) has been conducted to predict INS prognosis; however, no studies have evaluated serial changes in proteinuria during initial steroid therapy.

Methods: INS patient data were collected from 23 medical centers.

PatchDSA: improving digital subtraction angiography with patch-based phase-matching in natural breathing scenarios.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is used to visualize blood vessels by subtracting pre-contrast (mask) images from contrast images; sequential mask and contrast images are used to generate dynamic DSA images that allow observation of blood flow and organ movements. However, misalignment between mask and contrast images can cause motion artifacts, which not only obscure the appearance of enhanced structures but also lead to the misidentification of patterns as vascular structures. In this study, we proposed a new method for generating abdominal sequential DSA images using a patch-based phase-matching technique between mask and contrast images acquired under natural breathing conditions.

Relationship between clinical and pathologic findings and the presence of genetic variants in patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Genetic analysis, crucial in determining treatment strategies for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), can be performed in limited facilities and requires a long time. Predicting the presence or absence of genetic variants by clinical and pathologic features is preferable.

Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study, we compared the clinical or pathologic features between the patients with and without genetic variants in children with SRNS and evaluated the efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment and long-term kidney outcomes.

Differences in kidney prognosis between congenital and infantile nephrotic syndrome.

Background: More than half of patients with congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) or infantile nephrotic syndrome (infantile NS) have a monogenic aetiology. This study aimed to clarify differences in the clinical course, genetic background, and genotype-phenotype correlation between CNS and infantile NS.

Methods: We enrolled patients who were diagnosed with CNS or infantile NS and referred to our hospital for genetic analysis and investigated the clinical characteristics and genetic background of patients with identified causative genes.

Initial demonstration of the Scratch-PET concept: an intraoperative PET with a hand-held detector.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a valuable tool for diagnosing malignant tumors. Intraoperative PET imaging is expected to allow the more accurate localization of tumors that need resections. However, conventional devices feature a large detector ring that obstructs surgical procedures, preventing their intraoperative application.

Hornerin expressed on endothelial cells via interacting with thrombomodulin modulates vascular inflammation and angiogenesis.

Thrombomodulin is predominantly expressed on vascular endothelial cells and modulates endothelial cell functions by interacting with multiple ligands. The specific thrombomodulin receptor or cofactor active on the endothelial cell surface remains elusive. This study aims to identify interacting partners of thrombomodulin on endothelial cells.

Generation of short-term follow-up chest CT images using a latent diffusion model in COVID-19.

Purpose: Despite a global decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients, early prediction of the clinical course for optimal patient care remains challenging. Recently, the usefulness of image generation for medical images has been investigated. This study aimed to generate short-term follow-up chest CT images using a latent diffusion model in patients with COVID-19.

A diet high in glucose and deficient in dietary fibre causes fat accumulation in the liver without weight gain.

This study investigated whether a standard calorie diet that is high in glucose and deficient in dietary fibre (described as HGD [high glucose diet]) induces hepatic fat accumulation in mice. We evaluated hepatic steatosis at 7 days and 14 days after the commencement of the HGD. Hepatic triglycerides and areas of oil droplets increased in the HGD group both at day 7 and day 14, whereas weight gain, weight of epididymal fat, and plasma levels of triglycerides were unaffected by HGD consumption.

Recovery from rituximab-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: There are limited data on the long-term outcomes and risk factors for non-recovery after development of rituximab (RTX)-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia among children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Methods: A nationwide Japanese survey was conducted to determine the prognosis of patients with childhood-onset idiopathic NS who developed persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia after RTX administration. Specifically, predictors of IgG level recovery and risk factors for serious infection were examined.

Genotype and X-chromosome inactivation are associated with disease severity in females with X-linked Alport syndrome.

Background: Male patients with X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) generally develop end-stage kidney disease in early or middle adulthood and show distinct genotype-phenotype correlations. However, female patients show various phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic to severe with no genotype-phenotype correlations. The factors affecting the severity of XLAS in female patients are unclear.

Multi-modal evaluation of respiratory diaphragm motion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using MRI series and CT images.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airflow limitation and breathing difficulty, is usually caused by prolonged inhalation of toxic substances or long-term smoking habits. Some abnormal features of COPD can be observed using medical imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). This study aimed to conduct a multi-modal analysis of COPD, focusing on assessing respiratory diaphragm motion using MRI series in conjunction with low attenuation volume (LAV) data derived from CT images.

Release of Exosomal PD-L1 in Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas and Its Relationship to Radiotherapy.

(1) Background: Exosomal PD-L1 has garnered attention owing to its role in instigating systemic immune suppression. The objective of this study is to elucidate whether bone and soft tissue sarcoma cells possess the capacity to secrete functionally active exosomal PD-L1 and whether radiotherapy (RT) induces the exosomal PD-L1 release. (2) Methods: Human osteosarcoma cell line 143B and human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080 were utilized.

A case of tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury by renal hypouricemia.

Unlabelled: Idiopathic renal hypouricemia is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, characterized by hypouricemia and high renal fractional excretion of uric acid, and can be complicated by acute kidney injury after anaerobic exercise. However, no report has suggested tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury complicated with renal hypouricemia. We herein report the case of a 12-year-old female with tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury complicated with renal hypouricemia.

Toward an application of automatic evaluation system for central facial palsy using two simple evaluation indices in emergency medicine.

A stroke is a medical emergency and thus requires immediate treatment. Paramedics should accurately assess suspected stroke patients and promptly transport them to a hospital with stroke care facilities; however, current assessment procedures rely on subjective visual assessment. We aim to develop an automatic evaluation system for central facial palsy (CFP) that uses RGB cameras installed in an ambulance.

Use of lacosamide for focal epilepsy in a child with kidney failure undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Lacosamide (LCM) has become commonly used for focal onset seizures due to its high tolerability and low drug interactions. Unlike patients on hemodialysis (HD), pharmacokinetic data and dosing recommendations for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are scant.

Case Report: A 2-year-old girl with end-stage kidney disease undergoing PD suffered prolonged focal onset seizures.

Respiratory Diaphragm Motion-Based Asynchronization and Limitation Evaluation on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically causes airflow blockage and breathing difficulties, which may result in the abnormal morphology and motion of the lungs or diaphragm. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate respiratory diaphragm motion using a thoracic sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) series, including motion asynchronization and limitations. First, the diaphragm profile is extracted using a deep-learning-based field segmentation approach.